nimals too. They said to Jacob Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt. Jacob was beside himself with surprise and disbelief, but when his sons told him what Joseph said to them, and showed him what they were given to take back to Canaan, then Jacob was convinced. Enough! He said. My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die. He set out on the journey with everything he had when he came to settle down, and he made sacrifices to the god of his father and grandfather. God appeared to Jacob in a vision, saying not to fear going to Egypt, and that he will make Jacob a great nation there, and bring it out again. God said that he himself will go with Jacob into Egypt, and that Josephs own hand shall close your eyes. Jacob took his whole clan and all their possessions down to Egypt. They were to settle in Goshen. Jacob sent Judah ahead to Joseph to let them know they were arriving. Joseph went to Goshen to meet his father and his family. Joseph wept over Jacob for a time when they met. Jacob said to Joseph, I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive. At this final stage Jacob is no longer the skilled shepherd of the Esau and Laban narratives nor the fearless foeman of the penile scene; he appears, rather, as the aged father who is reunited in Egypt with his favorite son, Joseph, and as the honorable patriarch who blesses the people that will bear his name. (633) Joseph said that he would inform the Pharaoh of Egypt that his family has arrived. He said to Jacob, that when Pharaoh asks him what his occupation is, they are to say that they are keepers of livestock from their youth, because shepherds are unpleasing to the Egyptians. They said that when they were introduced to Pharaoh, and he asked what their occupation was. Pharaoh allowed them to settle in the best land of Egypt. When Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was, Jacob answered, The years of my earthly sojourn are one hundr...
